Croatia year 2012 Soccer Football Euro Cup MNH stamps

The 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2012, was the 14th European Championship for men’s national football teams organised by UEFA. The final tournament was held between 8 June and 1 July 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, the first time the countries had hosted the event. Spain won the tournament, defeating Italy 4–0 in the final at the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine. It was Spain’s third European Championship title, having also won in 1964 and 2008. Fernando Torres scored in the 84th minute to become the first man to score in two European Championship finals, having also scored in the 2008 final. The sixteen-team tournament began with a group stage, from which eight teams qualified for the knockout phase. Spain finished top of Group C, with a draw against Italy and wins over Croatia and the Republic of Ireland. Spain then defeated France in the quarter-finals before beating Portugal in the semi-final after a penalty shoot-out. Italy were second in Group C, with draws against Spain and Croatia, and a victory over the Republic of Ireland. In the knockout rounds, Italy defeated England after a penalty shoot-out, then Germany in the semi-final. The final took place in front of 63,170 supporters and was refereed by Pedro Proença from Portugal. Spain took the lead in the 14th minute, when Andrés Iniesta played a through-ball to Cesc Fàbregas, who ran past Giorgio Chiellini to the by-line before pulling back a cross for David Silva to head in from close range. Italy responded with shots from Antonio Cassano that were saved by Spain’s goalkeeper Iker Casillas but Spain doubled their lead before half-time, when Xavi passed to Jordi Alba, who capped a long forward run with a shot past Gianluigi Buffon in the Italy goal. Spain’s Iniesta was named as UEFA’s man of the match. A total of €196 million was given to the 16 teams competing in this tournament, an increase from the €184 million in the previous tournament